Andorra Geography
Money Laundering and Financial Crimes
Thailand (Primary). Thailand's role as a transit country for Southeast Asian narcotics makes it a prime target for money launderers. Thailand's geography and economy are factors that help account for this role. Northern Thailand forms part of the Golden Triangle with Burma and Laos. Although Thailand has made significant strides in reducing the production of illicit narcotics, it still serves as a major narcotics trafficking route from the Golden Triangle because of its good transportation infrastructure and international connections. Thailand's sizable Chinese minority population maintains economic and cultural ties to China, Singapore, Hong Kong, and to Chinese communities in other Southeast Asian countries. This community is a particularly intensive user of the alternative remittance systems (ARS), which facilitates the transfer and laundering of criminal proceeds from narcotics consuming countries such as the United States to producer countries such as Burma and Laos. Corrup ... [Read More]
US Department Of State Post Report
The Host Country Area, Geography, and ClimateLast Updated: 1/16/2004 2:29 PM ... [Read More]
Europe and Central Asia
Agreements and Treaties. Italy is a party to the 1961 UN Single Convention, the 1971 UN Convention on Psychotropic Substances, the 1972 Protocol and the 1988 UN Drug Convention. In December 2000, an international conference was held in Palermo, Italy, for the signing of treaty on transnational crime. The treaty must be ratified by a quorum of 40 countries before it comes into force. This new treaty will strengthen governments against serious crimes, including drug trafficking, money laundering, trafficking of human beings and arms trafficking. As a member of the European Union, Italy participates in the Dublin Group, UNDCP Pompidou group, Europol, the EU Commission, and attendant committees and working groups.Cultivation/Production. There is no known coca bush cultivation in Italy. However, opium poppy grows spontaneously in the southern part of Italy and the island of Sicily. It does not present a threat due to the low alkaloid content. [Read More]
US Department Of State Post Report
The Host Country Area, Geography, and ClimateLast Updated: 9/16/2003 9:30 AM ... Spain’s most striking topographical features are its elevated central plateau and its internal division by mountain and river barriers. The peninsula rises sharply from the sea with only a narrow coastal plain except in the Andalusian lowlands. Most of the peninsula is a vast plateau broken by mountains, deep gorges, and broad, shallow depressions. Spain has few bays, virtually no coastal islands, and a scarcity of natural harbors. Knowledge of the geography of Spain is important to an understanding of the nation’s history. ... [Read More]
Policy and Program Developments
Overview for 2000For U.S. international antidrug programs, the year 2000 was one of important accomplishments and serious challenges. Long-term cooperation with our Western Hemisphere allies continued to bear fruit. We successfully attacked drug crop expansion, enhanced interdiction efforts, worked to arrest leaders of drug trafficking syndicates, and narrowed the opportunities for the drug trade to launder drug profits. At the same time, we provided our partners essential training assistance to strengthen their law enforcement and judicial systems, while helping them with programs to reduce drug consumption in their own countries. The year’s most noteworthy accomplishment was to keep the total Andean coca crop from expanding significantly. Six years of joint ... [Read More]
Policy and Program Developments
Each year, we revise our estimates in the light of field research. The clandestine, violent nature of the illegal drug trade makes such field research difficult. Geography is also an impediment, as the harsh terrain on which many drugs are cultivated is not always easily accessible This is particularly relevant given the tremendous geographic areas that must be covered, and the difficulty of collecting reliable information over diverse and treacherous terrain. ... [Read More]
Policy and Program Developments
Overview for 2004 U.S. Government counternarcotics control achievements in 2004 show that persistence pays. Working with our allies, we significantly cut the size of the Western Hemisphere’s illicit drug crops, conducted successful interdiction operations against drugs bound for the United States, and weakened major drug trafficking organizations. We provided our partners essential training assistance to strengthen their law enforcement and judicial systems, while working with them to reduce their domestic drug consumption. We persuaded a greater number of governments to use extradition laws to deny powerful drug criminals a national safe haven they could once count on. We also fostered closer international cooperation among governments and financial institutions to make difficult for the drug trade to legitimize its enormous profits through complex and sophist ... [Read More]
Andorra (06/05)
Geography ... [Read More]
US Department Of State Post Report
Computer equipment can be damaged due to power outages, so if you bring your own PC, include voltage or power surge regulators. Most computer shops have a stock of diskettes and ribbons, and computer repair facilities are available. Domestic HelpLast Updated: 12/2/2003 9:18 AM Mission members find it easy to hire part-time domestic help to assist with housekeeping, cooking and gardening, although it is difficult to find domestic employees who are able to speak English well. The Community Liaison Office (CLO) has a file of references on domestic help. In order to protect potential employers and their neighbors, the Security Office will assist in obtaining routine police checks of all prospective domestic staff members. [Read More]
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